Education supporters protest outside Apodaca's office

Published: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 5:39 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 5:39 p.m.

Supporters of public education lined the streets in front of state Sen. Tom Apodaca's office on Saturday afternoon, dressed in red, with signs criticizing the state budget that Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law in late July.

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The protestors marched up and down a portion of Fifth Avenue with signs that read, "Public schools matter," "Our kids deserve more," and "First in flight, last in education."

The group, which totaled more than 160 protestors, listened as people took turns speaking through a sound system. Harold Hellickson, one of the event's six organizers, told the crowd that the event was "not politically motivated." Hellickson, Jacque Knable, Carol Repici, Chris Berg, Jim Thompson and Doug Freeman – members of Henderson County Citizen Advocate Fair Elections – organized the event.

It was more about pouring attention on the issue of education funding, Hellickson said.

"North Carolina is not getting the national publicity we feel it deserves," he told the crowd to applause.

Other current or former educators addressed the crowd as well. Rick Wood, a Henderson County School Board member, scolded the state legislature for its recent actions.

"The bottom line is our state has always valued public education," Wood told the crowd. He added that the state needs to "reverse the trend" of the past few years.

The main issues talked about on Saturday were the lack of raises for teachers, the cut in teaching assistants, and end to additional compensation for a master's degree, a decrease in textbook funding and a cut in classroom supplies.

Retired Balfour Principal Corum Smith said that the effects of the new state budget were extreme.

"They just wiped out stuff it's taken the school district years and years to get," Smith said.

All of these grievances were aired in front Apodaca's office -- along with an empty chair symbolizing his absence on Saturday.

In a phone interview, Apodaca defended a state budget that he is not "ashamed" of.

In fact, Apodaca said, K-12 education was the only educational institution in the state to get an increase in funds. Community school levels remained about the same and public universities took a cut, he said.

"We have spent more on education this year than in the history of North Carolina," he said. "We fully funded enrollment growth. That had to be our first priority."

He added that the state legislature fully funded the state pension plan for only the second time in the past decade and that there were no increases in premiums for health plans.

He also added that the state had to consider its other state employees – law enforcement officers, transportation workers and others – while making the budget.

"Perhaps we sent the county too much money if they're able to hand out 18 percent raises to administrators," Apodaca said. At a recent board meeting, the school board approved an increase in Superintendent David Jones' salary from $140,391 to $166,625.

One other thing that has to be considered, Apodaca said, is the economy.

"Folks have to remember that we're still coming out of a recession," he said. "The money's not flowing yet."

The group on Saturday requested that Apodaca and other members of the legislature hold town hall meetings to discuss the budget. The numbers in attendance on Saturday warrant attention, Hellickson said. He was pleased with the crowd that showed up.

<p>Supporters of public education lined the streets in front of state Sen. Tom Apodaca's office on Saturday afternoon, dressed in red, with signs criticizing the state budget that Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law in late July.</p><p>The protestors marched up and down a portion of Fifth Avenue with signs that read, "Public schools matter," "Our kids deserve more," and "First in flight, last in education."</p><p>The group, which totaled more than 160 protestors, listened as people took turns speaking through a sound system. Harold Hellickson, one of the event's six organizers, told the crowd that the event was "not politically motivated." Hellickson, Jacque Knable, Carol Repici, Chris Berg, Jim Thompson and Doug Freeman – members of Henderson County Citizen Advocate Fair Elections – organized the event.</p><p>It was more about pouring attention on the issue of education funding, Hellickson said.</p><p>"North Carolina is not getting the national publicity we feel it deserves," he told the crowd to applause. </p><p>Other current or former educators addressed the crowd as well. Rick Wood, a Henderson County School Board member, scolded the state legislature for its recent actions.</p><p>"The bottom line is our state has always valued public education," Wood told the crowd. He added that the state needs to "reverse the trend" of the past few years. </p><p>The main issues talked about on Saturday were the lack of raises for teachers, the cut in teaching assistants, and end to additional compensation for a master's degree, a decrease in textbook funding and a cut in classroom supplies. </p><p>Retired Balfour Principal Corum Smith said that the effects of the new state budget were extreme.</p><p>"They just wiped out stuff it's taken the school district years and years to get," Smith said. </p><p>All of these grievances were aired in front Apodaca's office -- along with an empty chair symbolizing his absence on Saturday. </p><p>In a phone interview, Apodaca defended a state budget that he is not "ashamed" of. </p><p>In fact, Apodaca said, K-12 education was the only educational institution in the state to get an increase in funds. Community school levels remained about the same and public universities took a cut, he said. </p><p>"We have spent more on education this year than in the history of North Carolina," he said. "We fully funded enrollment growth. That had to be our first priority."</p><p>He added that the state legislature fully funded the state pension plan for only the second time in the past decade and that there were no increases in premiums for health plans.</p><p>He also added that the state had to consider its other state employees – law enforcement officers, transportation workers and others – while making the budget. </p><p>"Perhaps we sent the county too much money if they're able to hand out 18 percent raises to administrators," Apodaca said. At a recent board meeting, the school board approved an increase in Superintendent David Jones' salary from $140,391 to $166,625.</p><p>One other thing that has to be considered, Apodaca said, is the economy.</p><p>"Folks have to remember that we're still coming out of a recession," he said. "The money's not flowing yet."</p><p>The group on Saturday requested that Apodaca and other members of the legislature hold town hall meetings to discuss the budget. The numbers in attendance on Saturday warrant attention, Hellickson said. He was pleased with the crowd that showed up.</p><p>"It just kind of spread like wildfire," he said.</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>